PCMark Vantage - Drives with Data Testing

For a complete breakdown on the Drives with Data Testing please read this article. You will be able to perform this test at home with the files provided in the article - full instructions are included.

- Brief Methodology

SSDs perform differently when used for a period of time and when data is already present on the drive. The purpose of the Drives with Data testing is to show how a drive performs in these 'dirty' states. SSDs also need time to recover, either with TRIM or onboard garbage collection methods.

Empty but Dirty - a test run just after the fill tests and shows if a drive needs time to recover or if performance is instantly restored.

HDD1 - Windows Defender

HDD2 - Gaming

HDD3 - Windows Photo Gallery

HDD4 - Vista Startup

HDD5 - Windows Movie Maker

HDD6 - Windows Media Center

HDD7 - Windows Media Player

HDD8 - Application Loading

In this test, where we populate the drive with controlled data at different stages, there really isn't a way to get around the TRIM issue. When we have the firmware fix, we'll update this article with a new chart and an edit.

The light use test (orange bar) the SuperSSpeed S301 SLC shows the very impressive 86K Mark score we achieved with a secure erase in the middle of our testing cycle. When we followed up tested Vantage right after a secure erase cycle, we achieved a score of just over 90K. Achieving between 85K and 89K is what we expect to see on a drive with working TRIM and I'm leaning close to the higher end of that estimate than I am the lower side.

There really isn't a way to get a proper 50% data on disk number with the TRIM issue. The good news is, even with broken TRIM, the SuperSSpeed S301 SLC 120GB runs as the same speed as the Intel 520 series 120GB drive. The SanDisk Extreme, another SandForce based drive tested with FW 5.0.1 scores around 8K Marks lower than the S301. What I would give to see the S301 with working TRIM right now! I suspect this drive will be the first to score in the high 60K Mark area when half full and it may even break 70K.

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